January 22, 2007
Brazilian scientists may have solved a shocking scientific mystery by creating ball lightning in the lab.
Physicist Antonio Pavão and doctoral student Gerson Paiva of the Federal University of Pernambuco have created orbs of electricity about the size of golf balls that mimic natural ball lightning.
The fluffy-looking spheres spin, throw off sparks, and vibrate.
They also move erratically about the lab, rolling around on the floor, bouncing off objects, and burning whatever they touch (see enlarged photo for stills from laboratory video).
People have reported seeing ball lightning in nature for hundreds of years, but there is no scientific consensus as to what causes the phenomenon....."